I wanted to invite all of the new teachers to check out http://www.bubbabrain.com. This website has over 4000 k-12 games ready to be played by your students. You can sign up on the website if you are interested in creating games for your classroom. The website is perfect for smartboards!! This is a FREE resource for students and teachers! Darren McCarty AP US Rochester, NY

I teach at a school with 75% poverty.  We are an older building without all the technology the new schools have.  I am wondering if anyone out there teaches at a school similar to ours who have positive test scores who can help us out.  What are you doing that works.  We will try anything.

Most of us new teachers have to survive our salaries by pinching pennies! Here's a website that shares year-round teacher discounts for all sorts of things including clothing, travel, mortgages and more.  www.TotallyTeacher.com. Please share any other year-round discounts you may know of. CheriTeacher by Day, Discount Hunter by Night

I used google sketchup to have the students create a 3D Cold War museum. They were able to put 3D artifacts in each room, do voiceovers to describe each artifact and use animation to take us on a virtual tour. When they were done, they just hit a button and it automatically walked us around the room and the voiceovers explained each artifact. This project incorporated history with 21st Century Skills.

Does anyone have any appropriate holiday classroom activities for middle school students? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Hi,TenMarks has launched a math practice and learning program for grades 3-High School and as of today, it's FREE for teachers to use in class or for their students to use at home.The TenMarks approach gives students a variety of problems on each topic, and ability to use hints if they need a little nudge, and immediate video lessons for them to refresh and learn the topic : on the spot. The end result : students refresh what they know and learn what they don't.Teachers choose their own curriculum (mapped to state standards), assign work to students, have it automatically graded immediately, review individual and class performance, and most importantly, take immediate action. TenMarks is super effective and real easy to use : it was designed with the help of math teachers across the country. What's more - it's FREE for the entire class!Check it out at http://www.tenmarks.com/teachersWe have already received excellent feedback from hundreds of teachers who signed up for the program in the last 3 days, since we launched. We'd be very interested in your thoughts - please share any feedback, constructive or otherwise with me directly.Dan ShermanTenMarks Education, Inc.www.tenmarks.comP.S. I would like to assure you that the purpose of posting in this group is not to spam or promote our commercial offerings. "

Are you allowed to have candy in your classroom for Halloween?Every year, we usually do a fun project where we make Halloween treats like popcorn balls or something. A memo went around saying no candy this year because of the school's I understand we need to promote healthy living, but stealing Halloween is over the top, right? I feel like the grinch is stealing one of my favorite holidays. On a more positive note, any ideas for crafts or healthier themed snacks to keep the tradition alive?

With 9/11 tomorrow, I've been going debating discussing the current controversy over the Mosque at Ground Zero and the Quran burning protest. It seems like a teachable moment that could spur thoughtful discussion about religious freedom vs. freedom of express and even national security. My only concern is that it's a very controversial topic. Do you think some hot button issues are best left out of the classroom, especially so early in the term?

We have recently made our website more interactive for educators and even parents at home. The character education game section we now offer on our website can be used as an activity in the class, if your classroom is equipped with computers and/or a projector, or at home. It's a fun and simple way to open up discussion for our character traits. You can play the games for free at http://www.charactersofcharacter.org/games.html and to learn more about our character education program please visit http://www.shopcharacter.comWe're always open to new suggestions so don't hesitate to contact us!-Jenny"

Behavior problems are absolutely out of control in my summer school class. It's so many kids who didn't even want to be here during the school year, so I'm at a loss. I've tried class outside, extremely interactive activities and every other thing I could thing of, but I'm struggling to get them to engage. Any help would be appreciated!

Does anyone else get the summer blues in the first few days out of school?I am so used to going to school everyday that I feel a little aimless. Today, I started looking up Masters programs when I hadn't planned on going back. I have a feeling that once I get into a good routine, I'll get over this little bout of beginning-of-summer blues, so I'm trying not to jump in head first. Am I the only one?

That is the question...With the end of the year at hand, I'm dying for a break from the little ones. I just got offered a slot teaching summer school and I can't decide if I should take it. On the one hand, it's only a half day and it's the best part-time pay around, but I feel like it'll be better for my mental well-being if I take a break from teaching for a few months. What should I do?

You get super excited about a cool pencil sharpener, stickers or bulletin board themes!Just saw this funny group on facebook and wanted to see who else had ideas.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!Have your students, administrators or parents done anything to celebrate?

Working on back-to-school professional development for my school. What do you guys think are the most useful training topics for August PD days?

Have people seen TeacherZone - it's free and has thousands of math video lessons. All are 3-5 minutes long - perfect for sharing with kids and parents. They seem to have videos for all math topics for K-12.Check it out at http://teacher.tenmarks.com , I started using it last week and found some excellent videos for probability.Kimberly "

Our school has to cut teachers and word is going out this week, so the mood is tense. I'm not too worried for myself because I've got seniority over a lot of the other teachers and have consistently good observations, but school is just not a fun place to be right now.Odds are, some good teachers close to me will be losing their positions for next year. I want to be supportiveand helpful but it's a tough moment. What is the right thing to say?

Hi, I am new to this site. So far I love it. Does anyone else here teach ED/BD students?

I've been asked to do the Reading PD for my district... K-12 across the curriculum and I'm supposed to make up the topic. I've asked around at my school, but am looking for some more reading objectives ALL teachers could use help with.Thanks!

On my last observation, my principal told meI was a little flat and that he wanted to come back in a few weeks to check on me again....I'd been mainly focusing on discipline/management since my last observation, so I think I just let myself get in a rut.Any tips on keeping the enthusiasm up and bringing the pizzazz back into the classroom without feeling like you're forcing it?

My two daughters are in middle school and high school. With all the helicopter parents at school, I'm trying to figure out how to be involved without being overbearing.Any tips?

Valentines and holiday themes aren't really my area, but I'd like to do something in class for it without actually having a party.I have fourth and fifth graders for science and social studies. Any ideas?

My class is doing peer review for their first essays. Do you think it's worth it?Despite the guidelines I give, I feel like 90% of students just tell each other their work is good and that's the end of it.

I'm working on a new site called ThanksTo.com, specifically for thanking the people who do great things and who influence our lives in a positive way.

We are running a campaign to champion the very best teachers, the ones who've made a lasting impact on the lives of those they've taught. We want to make sure they get the recognition they deserve. Tell us about the teachers who inspired you to go into teaching : who would you thank? Do you have any inspirational, funny or unusual stories to share?

By running this campaign on ThanksTo we hope to raise the profile of the teachers who've helped your communities, show the profession in a positive light and ultimately help to encourage a new generation to go into teaching.

If you'd like to read any of the thanks that people have left to their teachers, or leave a message of your own, go to www.ThanksTo.com.